Assignment 7 - Banner

Assigned: Oct. 20, 2011
Due: Oct. 21, 2011
Points: 10 points

Hi Everyone,

Today we are going to look at creating a banner to post across the top of your blog. You are free to find your own picture, or other design, that you like and feel appropriate given the topic of your blog.

1. You will need to access Google Images in order find a picture for your banner. 
• Before selecting the picture you like, you have to make sure it is a LARGE SIZE. 
• Hence, on the left hand column you will select the "large picture" option.
• Once your picture appears you will click on the "full size image" on the right hand column. 
• Here is the picture that I chose below.  Note that it is a large resolution (1280 x 1024+ pixels)





2. Once you have selected your picture, right click "save image as" and save (as a JPEG file) in one of your personal folders. 
3. Open Paint.NET > File > Open > choose your image for your banner.
4. In Paint.NET choose the "rectangle select tool".
5. Make a narrow (long) rectangle of the area you like > go to "Image" in the top menu> choose "Crop to Selection".
6. You can use the shortcut "CTRL -" to zoom out.
7. Create a new layer.
8. Choose the text tool and your text's color > type your blog's name > make your font size large.
9. If your background is too bright: select the background layer > go to "adjustments" > choose "brightness and contrast" > slide the brightness to the left to make your text easier to see.
10. Flatten your image by clicking "merge layer down" in the layer panel.
11. Go to "Image" > "Resize" > make sure "maintain aspect ratio" is checked and put your width of your blog in.  See the picture below that has the location in the "layout" section of your blog on where to find your blog's width.





12. Resize your image to your blog's width (my blog's width is 1158px).
13. Go to file > save > save your image as a JPEG.
14. Next go the "dashboard" page of your blog > click "Layout".
15. On the page that appears, go to the "Header" section and click on "edit". 
16. Choose the option that says "instead of title and description".
17. Select the option that allows you to choose a image from your computer and save.  
18. Refresh your blog and check your work.  You're done!

Students who are finished early, write your next blog post of 100+ words and choose a picture from Google Images that discusses your next topic.  Use Paint.NET to manipulate your image and be an artist, have fun with it and make something creative!  Enjoy!